Presidential election in Iran: Hardliner Raisi with the best prospects - low voter turnout expected

In Iran, the presidential elections are due on Friday.

A political hardliner is considered a clear favorite.

Sections of the population express their displeasure with the election.

• In Iran *, the presidential elections are due on Friday.

• The ultra-conservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi is considered to be the most promising candidate for the office.

• Observers expect a significantly lower turnout than in 2017.

• This news ticker is updated regularly.

Tehran - On Friday, Iran is about to set the course for the country's future in the years to come.

Then the approximately 59 million eligible voters in the country will elect a new president who will hold office for at least four years.

The current head of state of Iran, Hassan Rohani, is not allowed to run again after his re-election in 2017 due to the limited term of office.

Iran: Presidential election 2021 - Hardliner Raisi is considered the most promising candidate

However, experts reckon that the majority of eligible voters will not answer the call to the ballot box. The reason for this is the decision of the Iranian electoral body not to allow several top candidates to stand for election without justification. Sections of the population accuse the Guardian Council, which consists of twelve people and makes the decision on the admission of the presidential candidates, of holding a staged and undemocratic election.

The clear favorite in the fight for president is the current head of justice and cleric Ebrahim Raisi.

The 61-year-old is seen as a political hardliner - also with a view to the nuclear deal * - and is considered the establishment's preferred candidate.

Raisi ran for office four years ago, but was defeated by incumbent Rouhani at the time.

The way could be free for him in 2021.

The cleric sees himself as a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, in the Shiite clergy he holds the second highest rank of Hodschatoleslam.

As a politician, the ultra-conservative presents himself as a “relentless” fighter against poverty and corruption.

Presidential elections in Iran: observers expect voter turnout to be low

According to observers, there are no real competitors for the 60-year-old in the election.

The polling stations in Iran * open on Friday morning at 4.30 a.m. German time and close around 11.30 p.m.

However, the first results are not expected until Sunday.

However, voter turnout could be even more interesting than the outcome of the election.

Only 40 percent of those eligible to vote want to take part in the polls.

30 percent less than in the previous election in 2017.

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